Matthew Schaefer absolutely stole the show for the New York Islanders, scoring his second goal of the night in overtime to clinch a wild 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. That OT dagger hit 33 seconds in, ending what had been a tight battle on the road in St. Paul.
Schaefer’s Heroics and Islander Power
Schaefer was relentless, burying a wrist shot from the right circle on a break that left Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt no chance. He also picked up an assist, making him a force all night long. The Islanders needed that extra juice, especially after Bo Horvat potted a power-play goal and Adam Pelech also found the back of the net to keep New York pushing. Ilya Sorokin stood tall between the pipes, making 22 saves to keep his team in it until Schaefer could finish the job.
Wild’s Struggle and Snapped Streak
For Minnesota, it was a tough pill to swallow. They fought hard, with Joel Eriksson Ek, Quinn Hughes, and Matt Boldy all lighting the lamp. Boldy, in particular, looked like a hero when he tied the game at 3 with 3:53 remaining in regulation, forcing the extra period. Wallstedt matched Sorokin with 22 stops himself, but it wasn’t enough to fend off Schaefer’s late-game heroics. This loss stings for the Wild, who had been on a three-game winning streak and were riding high as the Central Division’s top team.
What This Means for Both Sides
The Islanders are now rolling, picking up their second straight win and pushing their record to a solid 7-4-2. They’re looking to keep that momentum going when they host Edmonton on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Wild’s impressive run is over, dropping them to 9-4-2. They’ll need to bounce back quick when they head to Washington on Sunday. This one was a gut punch for Minnesota, but a huge statement win for New York.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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